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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Ten minutes on each side?

13 replies

MrsLevinson · 08/03/2011 18:59

My friend had her first baby 2 weeks ago, and is feeding on demand. The baby wants to feed constantly and my friend is shattered. Today, her HV advised her not to feed from just one side per feed, but to feed 10 minutes from each side. Is this right? I'm far from an expert on breastfeeding but I always thought you should empty the breast before swapping sides. Surely with 10 mins on each side the baby would be getting mainly foremilk and be more hungry?
Any advice?

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 08/03/2011 19:04

Generally you shouldn't curtail feed times at all with such a tiny one, no. There are a few situations where this is advisable though. Did the HV advise it to sort a particular problem, or just because the baby seems to be feeding a lot?

Feeding ALL the time for a 2 week old does seem a lot. Is it literally constant, or is the baby just feeding a lot? Are there any other issues, e.g. nipple pain, weight gain concerns?

This is quite interesting on fore and hind milk.

narmada · 08/03/2011 19:07

I was always taught to let baby come off boob as and when ready, not limit time.

HV sounds useless, I think your friend needs some skilled support - is there a local BF cafe she can go to? Unless the HV is clumsily trying to recommend switch nursing, which is offering several goes at each boob at each feed...??

Original poster
MrsLevinson · 08/03/2011 19:08

No, it's not literally constantly, that's just me exaggerating. I think it's every 45 mins or an hour, but she doesn't seem to feed for very long at a time, she seems to be just snacking, rather than taking a full feed IYSWIM.
There are no other issues and the baby is gaining weight fine.
Thanks for that link. :)

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsLevinson · 08/03/2011 19:10

Narmada - No, she lives in the middle of the countryside with very few support groups. She said she had been offered conflicting advice from various midwives - it's no wonder some Mums get fed up and give up BF, but I guess that's another thread!

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PrettyCandles · 08/03/2011 19:20

If there are no problems, and the baby is gaining well, why is the HV interfering? If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I see nothing wrong with hourly feeds (or just under) at 2w. Many babies will have settled into longer gaps by this age, but many will not have.

Does the baby go for lOnger between feeds at any point?

If not, then your friend may need advice on the baby's latch. Otherwise she may just be a quick feeder.

Sadly, HVs and mws are often very poor sources of info on breastfeeding. If she can't get to any breastfeeding groups, then your friend can call any of the bfing support lines listed in the breastfeeding section on the right of this page. The women staffing these ones are lovely, knowledgeable, and, well, wonderful!

Original poster
MrsLevinson · 08/03/2011 19:48

Not totally sure, but I think the baby does go longer sometimes. A midwife has checked her latch and said it's fine, so I guess that's not a problem.
I'll give her the number of the helpline, thank you - I didn't even know it was there!

OP posts:
tiktok · 08/03/2011 19:58

This baby sounds normal - much, much easier to 'treat' the mother being 'shattered' with lots of help, support, cake :), rest, quiet and encouragement, than to try to change the normal needs of a tiny baby of 2 weeks.

Your friend should not be doing anything other than following the baby's needs - this rarely equates to 10 mins per side. Usually, the clock plays no role in deciding feeding schedules. However, the HV might have had a reason for this odd advice - what was it?

(No one can 'empty' the breast, BTW. The baby, not the breast's apparent emptiness, should be the 'leader' in the decision when to change sides :) )

RitaMorgan · 08/03/2011 20:05

Is your friend limiting the baby to one side per feed? I'd ignore the 10 minutes thing, but maybe if she offers both sides at each feed the baby will go a bit longer in between.

Librashavinganotherbiscuit · 08/03/2011 20:10

I used to feed for 10minutes on each side, my DD quite falling asleep on the breast and changing sides would wake her up and recommence the feed. If your friends baby is gaining weight and having wet nappies I wouldn't worry.

beanlet · 08/03/2011 20:14

The advice years ago was to feed 10 mins on both sides (once the baby had established breastfeeding). The more recent advice is to feed fully on one side, and then offer the other if the baby still seems hungry. Then you feed on that side first at the next feed.

So the HV isn't an idiot, just outdated.

japhrimel · 08/03/2011 21:22

That's 30 year old advice! My Mum and MIL were told the same and it's tosh - both my Mum and MIL had to do formula top-ups because they couldn't keep up when trying to follow the 10 minute rule.

No time limits and learn to feed lying down (so you can sleep even if baby is feeding!) are my advice.

Elsa123 · 08/03/2011 22:50

For my DD's first 12 weeks she fed for an hour every 3 and I was told she was comfort sucking and to stop her after 30 mins. Doing this gave me a world of hurt and yes she does like a comfort suck but her feeds were just that long. Now at 20 weeks she feeds for 30 mins. On both sides. She drains one then drains the other! I know there's no comfort sucking because in the middle of the night she gets straight down to business, and feeds solidly for 30 mins and breaks off awake ready to go back to bed. If your friend is comfortable, the best thing I can suggest is to just go with it and make sure she has a stock pile of food and drink by her chosen bfing spot. It gets easier soon.

Original poster
MrsLevinson · 09/03/2011 09:37

Thanks everyone for all the great advice. :)

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